Imagine: a world renowned chef stops by your kitchen for a meal. Yikes, the pressure is on! On the most recent episode of The Dinner Party with Elysabeth Alfano, Top Chef and restaurateur, Fabio Viviani, joined me in my kitchen to set me straight on the way to really cook pasta and many other tips for both in and out of the kitchen.
What better way to feed a Florentine than to give him some of Sicily? So I made my grandmother's famous Eggplant Rigatoni and my favorite Zucchini, Onion, Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata, paired with Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Merlot. (Viviani, of course, has his own line of sumptuous wines. As you'll see below, he's into everything!) Over food and wine, we dish on the fallacy of balance, why you should never follow pasta box directions, what cheese he relies on most and why he'd rather be dead than stupid. Who knew Fabio has so many life lessons to share? He also talks about his philosophy on health, happiness and making money and his new Know How Leadership Academy.
Grab some pasta and a glass of wine and enjoy this video clip and podcast. For more information on Fabio Viviani, see below.
Before opening Café Firenze in Moonpark, CA at 27, Fabio Viviani owned and operated five restaurants in Florence, plus a Farm House and two nightclubs. Once Stateside, Fabio went on to open Osteria Firenze in North Hollywood, and later at LAX. He also teamed up with the Dine Amic Group to open Siena Tavern, Bar Siena and Prime and Provisions in Chicago. Voted "fan favorite" on Top Chef, Fabio also participated in Top Chef All Stars and Life After Top Chef. Fabio has three cookbooks: Café Firenze Cookbook, Fabio's Italian Kitchen, Fabio's American Home Kitchen, and Fabio recently launched the Know How Leadership Academy.